Consumer package



April 5, 1932. Q BH'QDSEYE 1,852,228

CONSUMER PACKAGE Filed Jan. '7, 1930 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STA TES PATENT we CLARENCE BIRDSEYE, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FROSTED FOODS COMPANY, INC., OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONSUMER PACKAGE Application filed January 7, 1930. Serial No. 419,180.

This invention. consists in a novel consum' er package of perishable food products which is adapted to be prepared by methods in which a freezing step is included.

My invention is concerned with the diflicult problems of packaging in unit quantities fresh perishable food. products, such for example as fish, meat, fruit or vegetables, and

in accomplishing this without the loss of the essential characteristics of the fresh foodstuff, p otecting it against desiccation and deterioration from internal or external sources and adapting it is to be transported, stored and distributed to the consumer without impairment in any of these particuiars. My invention may be applied with advantage in packing a quick frozen product and in one aspect it consists in a package which is efl'ective to protect the product and at the same time facilitate thequick freezing step. From another standpoint my invention contemplates a sealed and frozen package of such a character as to permit the purchaser or con: sumer to inspect its contents without destroying the integrity of its wrapping. This would not only render the product liable to contamination from external sources but would subject it to a loss of moisture seriously affecting its quality and flavor.

l 11 producing the package of my invention I first pack the fresh product, which is usually in a moist pliable condition, within an open top carton so that the latter is'filled substantially flush with the top of its walls. I then place upon the surface of the packed product a sheet of transparent,- moistureproof material. The carton and its contents are then wrapped in a covering of transparent, moisture-proof material similar to that already used, and finally the packed and sealed package is frozen, preferably quick frozen, into a solid block. It will be seen that in-the procedure above outlined the exposed surface of the product is covered by a double thickness of transparent material so that whilejt is visible and may be readily inspected by the purchaser, it is doubly protected against being punctured or broken and against loss of moisture by drying The.

good advantage by being engaged between parallel heat-conductive members which en gage the opposite faces of the packed carton over their entire area with the interposition of a minimum amount of heat insulating ma terial between them.

'The package of my invention presents an 1 additional advantage in that, if desired, a trade-mark or other identifying insignia may be printed upon the inner transparent sheet which is first placed upon the surface of the product." Opportunity is thus afi'orded for accurately locating the mark in the desired position and in the complete package the mark is protected against disfigurement by transparent wrapping in which the package is sealed.

These and other features of the invention willbe best understood and appreciated from the following description of a-preferred em bodiment. thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the packed carton;

- Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the-loose transparent sheet in position upon the product;

Fig. '3 is a. view in perspective of the loose sheet; Y p

Fig. at is a view in perspective of thecomplete sealed package; and

Fig. 5 is ,a view in perspective, on are duced scale, suggestive of the quick freezing venient commercial type. A carton 10 of this general character is shown in Fig. 1 and is represented as being packed with fill'ets of fresh fish. The carton is filled with this product substantially flush with the top of its walls and as it is in a soft moist condition the carton is practically completely filled without appreciable air spaces. 7 c

Having packed the carton, a. transparent piece 14 of thin sheet materiahsuchas waterproof cellophane, is placed upon the surface of the product 12. The sheet 14 is cut accu-: rately to register with the inside dimensions although in packaging some products it is not necessary to employ a moisture-proof material for the covering. It will be observed that while the covering 18comp1etely seals the entire package, it forms with the sheet 14 a transparentcovering of two plies or of.

double thickness over the surface ofthe product 12 which is otherwise exposed. The product 12 may thus be readily inspected by the consumer. The-trade-mark 16 upon the loose sheet 14 is protected and held in place by the covering18 and the packagein this condition may be handled and transported.

without danger of being disorganized.

The package thus prepared is well adapted to bev quicklfrozen with its contents in any commercial form of refrigerating apparatus. In Fig. is shown a pair of heat-conductive plates or bands and 42 adapted to engage the package over the entire area of its upper and lower faces and to hold the same firmly while heat is extracted therefrom. This iseffected by liquid refrigerating medium directed against the plates 40 and 42 by supply pipes 41 and 43. After being maintained for a sufiicient length of time between the heat-conductive plates, the package is transformed into a solid frozenblock, ready for distribution .or storage, durably'protected against damage and desiccation, and presenting an attractive appearance for the trade.

Having thus-described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: e

1. A consumer package of a perishable food product, comprising an open-top carton packed full of a fresh food product, a loose transparent sheet bearing an identifying mark laid upon the product, and a sealed transparent wrapper enclosing the entire package and forming with the loose sheet a double cover through which the product is visible, the packed carton and its contents being frozen into a solid block.

2. A frozen consumer package of a perishable food product, comprising an open-top carton packed substantially full of a food product, a leaf of water-proof transparentshcet material laid in direct contact with the surface of the product, and a wrapper of similar material enclosing the carton and doubling the cover overthe product to protect the same while permitting inspection thereof, the packed carton-being frozen with its contents into a solid block.

3. A consumer package of a per shable food product, comprising an open-top carton containing a food product which hasbeen frozen therein, a loose leaf of transparent sheet material having substantially the same length and breadth as the carton, located upon the product and having an identlfying mark'printed upon its surface, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the carton and product, holding said loose leaf in place with said identifying mark substantially in contact with the inner face of the wrapper, protecting the mark thereon and forming wlth said loose sheet a transparent, puncture-resistant, two-ply covering for the roduct.

CLARENCE BIR SEYE. 

